Right. This here dog we're looking after....

[curlew]

......she's had a good run, loads of pees and a poo. She's done the school run, and had breakfast and a drink.

She's now crashed out on the sofa. Do I have to do anything else? I'm used to cats that just come and go and don't really need "looking after" I sort of feel I should be entertaining her or something.......

Sounds like a normal dog morning here ( minus the school run) . Mines baking himself in the conservatory .

sounds normal mine sunbathing on the sofa :-)

You're doing fine.
It's hot, so she'll probably nap a lot.

Nup, thats it - she will probably get up for a piddle a bit later, but thats all you have to do - this is why dogs are so brilliant

What type of dog is she and how old? My greyhounds would be happy with that. My mother's JRT would be thinking, 'Right, what's next?'

She's a Border Terrier and she's 4. We're going out again to do horses after lunch, so that'll keep her busy!

Does depend on the dog... mine is curled up in his office basket, he's only been out in the garden not even a walk. If we started to show signs that we might be going out - cues like putting on socks or walking sandals, or a few key words he's picked up on (not the W word!) - he'd be up and barking and ready to go.

If I was you I'd go with the saying 'let sleeping dogs lie'. If its sunny where you are, she might like to toast herself. If you happen to have any large raw bones (and she's allowed one), one of those on the lawn on a sunny day is perfect dog entertainment.

Oh, she might be more active that mine..
Still, it's hot.

Mine has signed herself off all activities this week on account of the heat. She got up this morning, attended to her lavatorial needs, had some breakfast and has now retired to the couch with a reproachful 'can't you get someone in to fix the heater, food woman, it appears to be stuck on full?' expression on her chops.

Disclaimer: she is not a terrier.

My 4-year-old border terrier is happy to spend a lot of the day asleep on the sofa, once he's had a a good walk. With the heat at the moment, he seems to have less energy than usual. I think she'll be fine, but if there is further excitement later on, in the form of horses and another school run, so much the better.

If she perks up later and needs entertaining, you or the DCs could try playing tug-of-war with something (old sock etc would do if you don't have dog toys), throwing stuff for her to fetch, or (my dog's favourite) giving her a big plastic bottle (fizzy drink one) with the lid tightly screwed on, and letting her chase it round and try to kill it. Very noisy, but huge fun for terriers.

My BT loves his naps but when ready to be occupied there is no mistaking it...he follows you round lobbing things at you or else launches himself at you for a wrestle! Enjoy the peace

Well, she's now had a fight with our neighbour's Jack Russell- so a more lively afternoon,,,......

Oops. Was it a fight-fight, or more of a wrestle? My border will happily wrestle/spar with all sorts of dogs, but it's all very good natured, tails wagging, and they both keep going back for more - it never gets vicious. But some Jack Russells can be a bit snippy and territorial...

Well, the Jack Russell thought it was a fight- fight. Ours though it was a game til it got a bit too rough and she baled out at that point.

She is now asleep in ds's bed with him. Oops.